Reservoir Media acquires Miles Davis catalog ahead of centennial celebrations

Reservoir Media acquires Miles Davis’ publishing rights ahead of centennial celebrations

Reservoir Media has struck a landmark deal with the estate of jazz icon Miles Davis, acquiring a majority share of his publishing rights and other associated interests just ahead of the trumpet legend’s 100th birthday in 2026.

The agreement, announced Tuesday, includes 90 per cent of Davis’s publishing catalogue, along with most of the estate’s income from his recordings. Reservoir will also share control of the late musician’s name, image and likeness. While financial details were not disclosed, industry estimates value the deal between $40 million and $60 million.

Preparing for a centennial year

The deal positions Reservoir to play a central role in commemorating Davis’s centennial. Born May 26, 1926, Davis revolutionized jazz multiple times before his death in 1991. His estate—managed by his daughter Cheryl Davis, son Erin Davis, and nephew and former bandmate Vince Wilburn Jr.—has long sought a partner to expand his legacy.

Together with Reservoir, the estate is planning a slate of global events and projects. Among them:

• A feature film, Miles & Juliette, about Davis’s romance with French singer-actress Juliette Gréco, produced with River Road Entertainment and Mick Jagger’s Jagged Films.

• An international symphonic show, pairing Davis’s iconic sound with fresh orchestrations and archival footage.

• An M.E.B. world tour, featuring alumni of Davis’s bands, including a four-night centennial celebration at SFJazz in San Francisco.

Wilburn said the aim is to keep Davis’s work evolving: “Uncle Miles was about evolution. He never looked back. So you want the music to continue to evolve long after we’re gone.”

Reservoir’s expanding portfolio

Founded in 2007 by Golnar Khosrowshahi, Reservoir has steadily grown into a major independent player in the competitive catalogue market. The company went public in 2021 and has acquired rights tied to artists ranging from Joni Mitchell and Snoop Dogg to Sheryl Crow, Sonny Rollins and Offset. It also owns Tommy Boy Records, which brought hip-hop classics by De La Soul and Queen Latifah into its fold.

“We are not a passive holder of intellectual property,” Khosrowshahi said in an interview. “We have an active platform.”

For her, securing Davis’s catalogue is a milestone. “Miles Davis is one of the most influential musicians of all time, and it is an incredible honour that his catalog has found a home at Reservoir,” she said.

Respecting a legacy

The Davis family said they chose Reservoir after meeting with several potential partners. Erin Davis described the deal as a “new chapter” for his father’s legacy, while Wilburn emphasized the company’s “real respect for Miles—his music, his style and his cultural impact.”

Khosrowshahi said that Reservoir’s goal is not only to preserve Davis’s work but also to reintroduce it to new audiences through streaming platforms, social media, and live experiences. Ideas under discussion include immersive exhibitions and possibly a Broadway show.

Reservoir vice-president of A&R and marketing David Hoffman called Davis a “blueprint for musicians and creatives of all kinds for decades.”

As Davis’s centennial approaches, the partnership ensures his sound—and his story—will be celebrated on a global stage, reminding audiences why his restless innovation continues to shape music today.